Fresh bomb attacks, threats hit cities across the country
The Jakarta Post, Medan/Palangkaraya/Jakarta
The new year is just one week old but the National Police have been dealing with terror threats after a bomb exploded and another was discovered in the North Sumatra capital, Medan, in a 12-hour spell.
The police are also investigating the disappearance of 5,796 electric detonators from a warehouse belonging to a stone quarrying company in the Central Kalimantan capital, Palangkaraya.
The bomb attack occurred in Medan on Monday night, the second blast to rock the country in less than a week, but no life was claimed as it hit an empty house in Amplas, near a bus terminal on Jl. Sisingamangaraja,
A bomb exploded during a music concert on New Year's Eve in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, killing 10 people, including the perpetrator. Police claim to have evidence that Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels, waging a guerrilla war in the neighboring province, were behind the deadly attack.
Police discovered another bomb at the crowded Pasar Pagi market on Jl. Abdul Rachman Hakim at around 10:30 a.m., one-and-a half hours before it was due to explode. The timer of the low explosive was set at 12 noon.
At about the same time, a bomb threat was received by people working in Medan industrial estate on Jl. Yos Sudarso. The police bomb squad searched the area but found no bomb.
Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Bagus Kurniawan said the bomb that exploded in Amplas and the one found in Pasar Pagi were identical. He said that the two bombs were equipped with timers, used wet batteries and were placed inside a 25-centimeter-long pipe.
"We have questioned 12 witnesses in the bomb blast and five in the bomb threat. We hope we can find the party responsible for the incidents," said Bagus.
He said that the motive behind the incidents was simply to frighten the public.
Another police officer shared the same opinion regarding the incidents.
"Our initial investigation indicated that the acts of terror used the same modus operandi. We conclude that these threats were perpetrated by the same group," said North Sumatra Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Satria Hari Prasetya.
Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan Governor Asmawi A Gani said on Tuesday that three parties should be blamed for the disappearance of the electric detonators.
"(They are) the company that owns the detonators, the company security unit and the police. Or, possibly only one of them," said Asmawi.
The loss of the detonators, belonging to Palangkaraya-based mining company PT Hansur Jaya Utama, has been a cause for concern because the explosives could be smuggled outside Central Kalimantan province and be used nationwide in terror bombings.
"The Central Kalimantan Police chief has tightened security at the borders with other provinces so that the detonators can't be smuggled across the province or across the country," said National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko.
He added that the Central Kalimantan police chief had informed all other provincial police chiefs to be alert to the smuggling.
Soenarko added that the police had begun investigating the case.
"We shall find out who is responsible. We are now investigating the people from the company as well as the police personnel in charge," he said.
The Central Kalimantan police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Husni Rifai said that a team from Jakarta headquarters had been sent to investigate the case.
"There are six members in the team and they are headed by a one-star general. They are focusing themselves on investigating the company and police personnel," said Husni.